Heart of Texas Vol. 3 (26 page)

So he'd take Amy to the Grange Hall tonight, and he'd dance with her, too, if that was what she wanted. But he fully intended to introduce her around. Charlie Engler might be interested. Steve Ellis, too. Both owned smaller spreads seventy or eighty miles outside Promise. They usually drove into town on Friday afternoons and split their time between the feed store and drinking beer at Billy D's. Lyle Whitehouse was often with them, but Wade wanted to steer Amy away from him. Lyle had a temper and tended to enjoy his liquor a little too much.

What Charlie and Steve needed, Wade figured, was a stabilizing influence. A wife and ready-made family would go a long way toward setting either man on the right path.

That decided, Wade reached for his Stetson, then locked the front door. He whistled as he drove toward Frank's old house. He hadn't thought to get Amy a corsage and stopped at the local Winn-Dixie on his way. Nothing fancy. He couldn't see investing a lot of money in a bunch of dyed blue carnations that were sure to get squashed when she danced. Besides
he
wouldn't be the one to smell their fragrance. Charlie would. Maybe Steve.

He parked his Blazer at the curb and hopped out. His smile was already in place when he rang the doorbell. Knowing Dovie had helped Amy find a decent dress, he wanted to be sure he complimented her on how pretty she looked.

He pressed the doorbell with one hand and held the flower in the other.

An inordinate amount of time passed—at least two minutes—and Wade pressed the bell again. The door opened just then and a fashion model stood before him. His mouth must have dropped open; all he could do was stare. This had to be a joke and if so he wasn't amused.

“I'm here for Amy,” he said, wondering who was behind this scheme.

“Wade, it's me,” she said and laughed softly.

N
ELL
B
ISHOP FELT LIKE
an entertainment director aboard a cruise ship. Her dude ranch was in full operation now, and the second group of cowboy wannabes had thought it would be great fun to end their adventure by attending the dance put on by the local Cattlemen's Association.

There were four men and two women, all gussied up in their finest Western gear. She'd driven them to the festivities in the used minivan she'd bought at the first of the month. So far, her plan to turn Twin Canyons into a dude ranch, complete with a trail drive and sleeping under the stars, had been an unqualified success.

Of course Nell had gotten plenty of help along the way. Her mother-in-law, Ruth, and her children, Jeremy and Emma, had been indispensable; so were the two hands she'd hired.

The crazy part was that after spending a year and a half planning and developing her idea, she was ready to abandon everything—for love. Travis Grant was to blame for this sudden change of heart.

Nell remained on the edge of the dance floor, watching old Pete Hadley, who stood on the stage, a fiddle tucked under his chin, accompanying a country-and-western band. Couples formed uniform rows and performed the latest in line dances.

Men and women alike slid across the polished wood floor, looking like a scene out of a 1930s Hollywood musical, and all Nell could think about was how much she missed Travis. The engagement ring on her finger was testimony of his love. Although they spoke daily by phone, it wasn't enough. They were eager to marry, eager to start their lives together.

Unfortunately planning a time for their wedding wasn't a simple matter. Nell had obligations, and so did he. Because of the dude ranch, she was forced to stay in Texas. A summer in New York would have been a fabulous cultural experience for Jeremy and Emma, but it wasn't possible. Not this year.

Nor could Travis just pack his bags and move to Texas. Not yet. Like her, he had commitments. Speaking engagements, an author tour, followed by a research trip that had been booked for more than a year. Being apart like this wasn't what he wanted, either, but it couldn't be helped.

Three months, he'd told her, and then they'd be together for the rest of their lives. It hadn't sounded so bad when he first outlined his schedule. The weeks would fly by, he'd said, and they had. It was almost July now, and soon August would arrive and before she knew it, September. On the first Saturday of September Travis and Nell would become husband and wife.

“Nell.” Caroline Weston stopped in front of the punch bowl beside Nell. “My goodness, I can't remember the last time I saw you. You look fantastic. How are you?”

“Wonderful,” Nell told her friend, which was the truth. But if anyone looked fantastic, it was Caroline. Her pregnancy was obvious now and she literally glowed with an inner contentment. “You must be so happy.” Nell was pleased that Caroline had found her cowboy at last. Grady Weston might be stubborn and quick-tempered, but he was a man who would love and honor his wife.

Caroline's face flushed with pleasure as she rested her hands on her stomach. “I've never felt better.”

Grady joined his wife. He stood behind Caroline and caressed her shoulders. “Good to see you, Nell. How's the dude ranch going?”

“It's keeping me busy,” she said. Her gaze wandered to the dance floor, and she was gratified to see that her guests were enjoying themselves. Two couples and two male business executives made up her current group. They were a good mix; everyone had gotten along well. Nell didn't expect that to be the case with every two-week session and considered herself fortunate.

“My feet need a rest,” Caroline announced, and Grady led his wife to a row of chairs that lined one wall. A number of spectators sat there, visiting with one another.

Nell watched as Grady and Caroline joined them. Once she was comfortable, Grady brought his wife something cool to drink. Nell smiled absently and tapped her foot to the music. A year earlier, Grady had unexpectedly phoned and invited her to this very dance. She'd gotten two invitations, in fact—one from Glen Patterson, as well—and now, a brief twelve months later, both Grady and Glen were married.

The ache of loneliness inside Nell increased. Travis Grant was a city slicker, her first guest on the dude ranch, and she'd fallen head over heels in love with him. And he with her. Both had been married before. Nell was a widow, and Travis was divorced. Neither had any intention of falling in love again. But they'd been thrown together working to solve the mystery that surrounded Bitter End, the ghost town situated outside Promise. Eagerly on Travis's part, reluctantly on hers. But after research and much conjecture, they
had
solved it. In the process they'd fallen in love.

At first a lasting relationship between them had seemed impossible. Travis had returned to New York, and she'd resumed the business of her life, starting a new venture and raising her two children. But she'd been miserable. Travis, too. It wasn't long—less than two weeks—before they both realized they belonged together. They'd intended to get married right away. So much for best-laid plans. September had never seemed as far away as it did right that minute.

The music slowed and couples moved into each other's arms. Nell missed Travis so much that watching the dancers was almost painful. She was about to turn away when someone tapped her shoulder.

“I believe this dance is mine.”

She instantly recognized the rich resonant voice.
Travis.
But that wasn't possible. He was touring on the East Coast and not due back in New York until Sunday. Not due in Texas until right before their wedding.

Nell whirled around, convinced her heart was playing tricks on her. “Travis?” Her shocked afraid-to-believe gaze met his. After a second of stunned wonder, she hurled herself into his arms.

Travis clasped Nell around the waist and, in his joy, half lifted her from the ground. Without caring about an audience, she spread kisses all over his face. “Travis, oh, Travis.”

She didn't know how he happened to arrive in Texas for this dance or how long he could stay. None of that was important just then. Being in his arms was.

“Let's dance,” he whispered and reached for her hand.

Numb with happiness, she blindly followed him onto the floor.

Dancing was little more than a convenient excuse to continue holding each other. Nell closed her eyes as she moved into his embrace, listening to the slow mellow music. With her arms around his neck and her face against his shoulder, she clung to him and he to her. All too soon the dance ended, long before Nell was ready, and from the reluctant way he released her, she knew Travis wasn't ready, either. With no other choice they broke apart and applauded politely.

“How…When?” she asked as they walked off the dance floor. In her shock, she had trouble getting the words out.

Travis took her hand and led her to a quiet corner, away from the festivities. They sat facing each other, so close their knees touched.

“I phoned late yesterday afternoon,” he began. “You weren't there. I was feeling miserable without you and exhausted from the tour. I was scheduled to fly back to New York last night.”

Nell knew that much already.

“All at once I realized I didn't give a tinker's damn if I ever saw the New York skyline again. Everything that's important to me is right here in Promise.”

“Why didn't you let me know..?”

He grinned and touched her cheek as if he couldn't believe, even now, that they were together. “Ruth answered the phone and we talked. She told me you'd been working too hard.”

“I haven't, it's just that—Oh, Travis, it's so wonderful to see you.” If they'd been anyplace other than a crowded dance with half the town looking on, she would've kissed him senseless. She had so much to tell him, so much she wanted to ask in the little time they had before he left again. His promotional tour might be over, but he was scheduled to leave almost immediately on a research trip deep in the interior of Mexico.

Travis touched her face and his eyes brightened with intensity. “I'm not taking that trip.”

“But, Travis, you've been planning it for so long.”

“I'll go someday, but when I do it'll be with you. I didn't know it was possible to feel this strongly about someone. As far as I'm concerned, the entire book tour was a waste. My publicist said that next time the publisher plans anything like this, they'll gladly pay to have you fly with me. I wasn't worth a damn. Look what you've done to me, Nell.”

She smiled. “How long can you stay?” she asked.

Travis glanced at his watch and Nell realized he'd probably need to be back on the road by morning.

“Does the next forty years suit you?”

“What?” His response completely unsettled her.

“I want us to get married.”

“Now?”

“As soon as we can set it up with Wade,” he said. “We'll leave on our honeymoon right away. Somewhere wonderful, anywhere, I don't care as long as we're together.”

“But I can't go now.” Nell's heart sank. “I can't leave the ranch.” Although her guests were due to depart the next morning, a fresh batch was scheduled to arrive first thing Monday.

“It's all been arranged,” Travis insisted.

“Arranged? What do you mean?”

“Actually this was all Ruth's idea. She asked me to remind you of a surprise birthday party you threw for her last year. Well, this little surprise is her doing.” Travis grinned. “Ruth's got your bags packed and says she refuses to listen to any excuses.”

“What about—”

“It's covered, sweetheart. Ruth got two of her retired friends to come in and ride roughshod over the next bunch of greenhorns. Everything's under control, so don't worry.”

“But—”

“We're getting married, Nell, no ifs, ands or buts!”

“Yes, oh, Travis, yes.” Nell was overcome with gratitude—and with joy—that he was here and she was in his arms…and they were getting married!

“I knew you'd agree once you heard my plan.”

Smiling through her tears, Nell hugged the greenhorn who'd captured her heart. Ruth had said that one day she'd give her a surprise as big as the birthday party Nell had thrown for her. Nell had never dreamed it would be something this wonderful.

“I'm crazy about you,” Travis whispered.

Wonderful, indeed.

A
FTER ACTING LIKE AN IDIOT
at Amy's front door, Wade had quickly recovered his composure by making some ridiculous comment about the sunlight blinding his eyes.

He'd been blinded all right, but it wasn't by the sun. Just then he suspected it had been his own stupidity that had done him in.

The Lord had quite a sense of humor, Wade reflected. He considered what happened a sort of a divine-induced attitude adjustment. From the way he'd behaved, anyone might have thought that taking Amy to this dance was a burden. An unpleasant chore. He'd done everything but hide in an effort to avoid it. In reality, he was so calf-eyed over her it was all he could do to keep the drool off his chin. What he'd needed was a good swift kick in the rear. And Amy had provided it.

The minute they'd arrived, Amy had received more attention than a Smithsonian exhibit. Single ranchers had immediately flocked around her; two hours later, they still did. Wade had never seen anything like it.

No sooner had they stepped into the hall than Steve Ellis had asked for a dance. The guy had his nerve! Wade hadn't seen any of the other men stopping and requesting a dance from someone else's date. What really stuck in his craw was that the evening was half over and he had yet to dance with Amy.

He couldn't get close enough to ask.

Okay, okay, so this was probably what he deserved. He was the first to admit his attitude had been all wrong. He'd made a mistake in not owning up to the way he felt about her. A big mistake—but it seemed he wasn't going to get the opportunity to undo it.

This sudden interest was due to more than simply the fact that Amy was a beautiful woman. Anyone looking at her could see that. On the drive to the dance he'd struggled to keep his eyes on the road and not on her. So, okay, he was attracted to her. He liked her, too. Really liked her, and had from the first.

But he'd been afraid of what people would say if he pursued a relationship with her. A romance. Fear had dominated his actions.

Sheriff Hennessey had tried to talk sense into him. Unfortunately Wade's stubborn pride had prevented him from hearing the message. He resented being manipulated, and he'd focused on that, instead of his feelings for Amy.

From this point forward he refused to allow what others thought to dictate his decisions. He wanted to get to know Amy better. If she wasn't ready to date, then he'd start by being her friend. She was a generous person and he hoped she'd be willing to give him a second chance. That was, if he could manage to break through the throng of men vying for her attention.